Gabb, seeing her face and sensing the situation, mumbled some excuse and went back into the house.
A hot tear slid down Sapphire's cheek.
She turned away quickly and rubbed at the evidence of her overwhelming emotion.
"Oh, honey-"Clara wrapped her warm arms around Sapphire and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Don't do that."
There was something about a mother's presence that brought all emotions straight to the surface in one intense explosion of feeling. Even if Sapphire was determined not to cry, she'd somehow always find herself a sobbing mess in front of Clara.
Clara held Sapphire in her arms, her hand rubbing soothing circles along her back, the same way she'd done for as long as Sapphire could remember. Sapphire sniffled, her tears dripping down her cheeks.
Despite the summer
